Digital reproductions of the Post and sister papers the Western Mail, South Wales Echo and Wales on Sunday, are now available on iPad.

At the official launch in the Senedd, Mr Jones told guests he had been encouraging executives to produce a tablet versions of the papers for some time.

“There is a long and proud history of print media as experienced now through the Western Mail, the Daily Post, the Echo and Wales on Sunday,” he said.

“The Western Mail and Daily Post were very strong supporters of devolution, of course, in 1997 and in the referendum in 2011.

“We very much appreciated the editorial position taken by both the papers.

“We know more and more people are getting their information on line and that is why a tablet edition of a newspaper is so important, we live in a digital age.

“Not long ago people got used to the idea they should be able to access newspapers on line for free with potentially disastrous consequences for newspapers.

“Now people have got used to subscribing to newspapers on line which means a tablet edition can be charged for .

“We shouldn’t forget that there are many people around the world who are Welsh ex-pats who will want to subscribe to these newspapers and that again is a very important potential source of revenue at times we all know are difficult in the newspaper industry an extra source of revenue can only be welcome.

“It’s exceptionally important step forward in terms of being able to disseminate news from Wales not only for our people here but across the world.

“It’s an important step forward in the history of the Western Mail family of newspapers and the Daily Post family of newspapers and it will help to ensure a sustainable basis for Welsh newspapers for many years to come.”

“The exciting thing about the e-editions is it gives people more choice.

“I have a paper they can get in the shops, a website on desk top computers or tablets.

“We have a great mobile site which went live in June. Now we have a tablet edition.

“For two years people have been saying to me when are you getting an iPad edition. The fist tweet I has this morning was when is the Android version coming?”

An Android version is in development and will follow soon as part of developments, including a photo gallery and video.

“For me, giving choice to people in the way they get our content is the key.

“What we have had from feedback already is people are excited about being able to get it at home and down load it and take it where they need to.”

The e-edition of the Daily Post is free for a month, then it will cost £7.99 a month.

“The Daily Post has been around for many years.

The new Daily Post e-edition is now available on iPad

“This is the latest innovation that says we are going to be around for many, many more.”

Deputy presiding officer David Melding said that a vibrant Welsh press was essential in the emerging devolved democracy of Wales, both within the country and beyond.

“The Daily Post and Western Mail are really important for the written coverage and analysis of Welsh politics.

“I know quite a few politicians don’t appreciate every aspect of the coverage that we get but, boy, if we didn’t have this part of the media really focussing and helping scrutiny we would have been the much poorer for it.

“We all have a part to play in addressing the democratic deficit in Wales.

“If devolution really works, a lot of what we do will have a UK and wider projection than that across the world. That should be the confidence we should have,” he said.

Alan Edmunds, editor of the Western Mail, said the e-editions were another important development in the media which was constantly having to innovate.

“Our duty is to respond to what our audience wants, our readers and advertisers and whatever we do we deliver it in the right format at the right time.

“Print has obviously played a central part in the life of Wales and our journalists play an essential part in the life of Wales.

“It’s important for Wales as a nation.

“Coverage of Wales is scant in the national papers. In the Western Mail and Daily Post we fill that gap working hard on covering the important issues for Wales.”

The new e-editions will include a live button for breaking news, as well as a search and archive facility.